Golf Tips » March 2003: Good course management – Consider your options!

Often during a round of golf with students or friends I observe them make a poor decision on the shot at hand because they did not take all the options available to them into consideration.

Here is a typical example:

• A golfer is faced with a difficult bunker shot where the ball is lying at the back edge of the bunker.

The first option is to play the “Tomahawk” shot I described in my August 2002 golf tip.

Option #2 involves looking at the face of the bunker to see if there is a smooth area where the ball can be putted out as in picture #1. This is a good choice for a high handicapper or someone who is a poor bunker player. You will at least get the ball out of the bunker. If the bunker has even the slightest lip then this shot is not an option.

Picture #1

Option #3 is to play it out backwards as in picture #2. This eliminates the danger of leaving the ball in the bunker if you hit a poor shot.

Picture #2

Option #4: Most bunkers have a low side (to allow machinery to enter the bunker) and if you are not too far away from this side, you can again use the putter and hit it out or play a regular bunker shot to the side of the green, as in picture #3:

Picture #3

Option #5 If you are a good bunker player but you are playing in a stroke play competition and do not want to risk the “Tomahawk” shot, just tap the ball to the middle of the bunker as in picture #4 & #5 and then play a regular sand shot from there. You might be giving away a shot, but in the long run will probably avoid those high numbers which are undesirable in a stroke play situation.

Picture #4

Picture #5

Next time you are in a difficult situation on the course, consider all your options for better scores!